Crashing Through Waves

Rusted Ship Hull

A wave crashing through a rusted ship hull on shore near Punta Arenas, Chile.

Rattail Fish

Photograph by NOAA/ Webb Pinner

A Rattail Fish (aka Grenadier) swims along the ocean floor.

Cargo Ship

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Crates on cargo ship.

Global Conveyor Belt

Photograph by National Geographic Television

CGI IMAGE: These currents are part of a system called the Global Conveyor belt. The blue water represents the cold water that is being cycled at deep depths, the red is the warmer water that sits more towards the surface. It is one of the large current systems that circulates water around the planet, affecting weather, tides, storms and climate.

Unique Wave

Photograph by National Geographic Television

CGI IMAGE: Teahupoo creates a unique wave because the reef rises suddenly and sharply out of a very deep ocean. The inertia of the wave hits that wall and it shoots the water and energy it's been carrying straight up, creating a high and very dense wave. Adding to it it's only about three feet from the top of the water to the reef below once the wave gets moving.

Scientist Kakani Katija

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Scientist Kakani Katija conducts further experiments in the Liquid Jungle Lab with special lasers, cameras, and software that tracks the exact movement that jellyfish create through the water.

Wave Measuring Laser

Photograph by National Geographic Television

CGI IMAGE: An oil rig in the North Sea with a wave measuring laser attached to it's base. During a storm, the laser was able to give us the first account of a rogue wave (in this instance it was 75 ft high while the other large waves around it were between 20 and 30 feet.)

Illuminating Jellyfish Movements

Photograph by National Geographic Television

In the Liquid Jungle Lab, Kakani Katija performs similar controlled experiments using a laser to illuminate a jellyfish's movement through the water.

Studying Jellyfish

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Kakani Katija and Jack Costello analyze the jellyfish they collected during their dive that morning for further testing back in the Liquid Jungle Lab.

The Cape of Good Hope

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Waves at the Cape of Good Hope.

Collecting Salp

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Kakani Katija collecting salp in jars to use in laboratory tests.

Waves Crashing

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Waves crashing at Teahupoo, Tahiti.

Sunset at Teahupoo

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Sunset at Teahupoo, Tahiti.

Riding a Wave

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Raimana Van Bastolaer riding a wave in Tahiti.

Jean Pierre Arabonis

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Meteorologist Jean Pierre Arabonis standing on the shore in Cape Town, South Africa.

Helicopter Ride

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Dr. Bob Ballard with the NGT crew before being their helicopter ride to a Columbia River container ship.

Captain Jordan

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Captain Dan Jordan on board a Columbia River Bar Pilot boat.

Off the Coast of Tahiti

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Waves crashing off the coast at Teahupoo, Tahiti.

Air Dropped on the Columbia River

Photograph by National Geographic Television

Dr. Bob Ballard being lowered out of a helicopter onto a container ship in the Columbia River.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL-1114251. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.